Read more about the article Barry Alvarez: “I thought Mel got the most out of his kids this year.”

Barry Alvarez: “I thought Mel got the most out of his kids this year.”

By TOM SHANAHAN Barry Alvarez likes to keep up on former players and coaches, especially ones that graduate to head coach. Sometimes they come to him. A 2006 game that was scheduled years in advance happened to feature San Diego State and first-year head coach Chuck Long playing at Wisconsin against first-year Badgers coach Bret Bielema. Long was Iowa’s quarterback when Alvarez was a Hawkeyes assistant under Hayden Fry. Alvarez was Wisconsin’s head coach (1995-2005) with Bielema his…

Continue ReadingBarry Alvarez: “I thought Mel got the most out of his kids this year.”
Read more about the article My MSUings on Iowa and the remainder of the season

My MSUings on Iowa and the remainder of the season

By TOM SHANAHAN My MSUings on the Michigan State (1-2) falling flat from last week’s stunning upset of Michigan. The Spartans were physical a week ago, passive in a 49-7 loss Saturday to Iowa (1-2) at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. DON’T TRY TO EXPLAIN IT This is only the third game of the Big Ten season, but if you look around at the other conferences that began playing September, this was a typical weekend of college football.…

Continue ReadingMy MSUings on Iowa and the remainder of the season